Senate nixes House coal ash bill, negotiating next

RALEIGH, NC (AP) -- Legislation designed to clean up coal ash ponds at Duke Energy power plants in North Carolina is now heading to final negotiations after the Senate rejected the House version of the bill.

The Senate voted unanimously Monday to send competing legislation from both chambers to a conference committee to forge a compromise. The Senate bill's sponsor said last week he had some issues with the House version.

A final measure would have to be voted on again by both chambers before it heads to Gov. Pat McCrory's desk.

Both versions of the cleanup measure require all pits be closed in 15 years. The House would give state regulators leeway on deadlines if Duke seeks delays. The legislation arose from the massive coal ash spill at Duke's Eden plant in February.

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